• Aarp Logo Red
    AARP Members Save $100 AARP SAVE $100 on select vacations booked with us on select vacations
    Learn More

Italian Intermezzo

Operated by: Insight Vacations

8 Days from $2,525 per person
APR - OCT 2023
Italian Intermezzo

Countries Visited

Italy, Vatican City ...more Italy, Vatican City

Locations Visited

Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Pisa, Florence, Orvieto, Rome, Vatican ...more Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Pisa, Florence, Orvieto, Rome, Vatican
  1. Day 1 Elegant Como

    Welcome to Italy. After being greeted by your Travel Director at Milan's Malpensa Airport, your transfer departs at 09:30 or 12:30. Join your Travel Director at 17:30 and head to L'antica Riva, an elegant restaurant on the shores of Lake Como, known for serving delicious fresh produce. Your Welcome Dinner provides the opportunity to mingle and get to know your fellow travellers over a pleasant evening.

    meals Dinner with Wine
    hotel Palace Hotel, Como.
  2. Day 2 Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic Relaxed Start

    Journey through the beautiful Italian lake district, past Lakes Iseo and Garda to the floating city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. Your hotel offers authentic Venetian charm, as it reflects the history and culture of the surrounding area. As night falls, why not savour the magic of St. Mark’s square with its orchestras and al-fresco cafes?

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
  3. Day 3 Venice and the Magic of La Serenissima

    Wake up ready to embrace this romantic city. What better way to see Venice than from a private boat, cruising past palazzos and churches to St. Mark’s Square? See the gilded basilica, the Doge's Palace and Lord Byron’s Bridge of Sighs. No visit to Venice would be complete without a gondola serenade through the myriad of beautiful canals. Relax and enjoy the local traditional songs, as you drift along in awe. While here, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional arts centre, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Spend the afternoon and evening as you wish or join an Optional Experience to the island of Burano, famous for its colourful houses and enjoy a delicious meal of local specialities.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
  4. Day 4 Tranquil Tuscany, Pisa and Florence

    Follow the fertile valley of the River Po, into the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany. Continue to Pisa and see the Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles. Later, venture on to beautiful Florence - a treasure house of the Renaissance. Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo's David. Alternatively, wander through the market stalls on a shopping tour, enjoying all the Italian treats and finery on offer. With your Local Expert, admire the marble-clad cathedral and baptistery, and wander Piazza della Signoria, an open-air gallery filled with Renaissance sculptures. In the evening, dinner is served with a selection of Tuscan wine.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Hotel Albani Firenze, Florence.
  5. Day 5 Free Time in Renaissance Florence Relaxed Start

    Learn the secrets of traditional Florentine leatherwork when you visit a local workshop to admire the intricate work.The rest of the day is free for you to fully immerse yourself in the Tuscan capital. Perhaps shop for leather or gold goods around Santa Croce or relax and soak up the atmosphere in one of the many street cafés? Be sure not to miss the magnificent museums and galleries that house some of the most famous works of art in the world. In the evening, enjoy an opportunity to sample the true flavours of the region with a sumptuous optional Tuscan dinner, served with local wine.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hotel Albani Firenze, Florence.
  6. Day 6 Chianti Country to Orvieto and on to Rome

    Journey to Umbrian Orvieto, a hilltop village overlooking a vineyard-covered plain.Explore the town with your Travel Director and visit Piazza del Duomo to admire the cathedral, before continuing towards the Eternal City of Rome.In the evening, why not throw your coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to the city?

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Radisson Blu GHR Rome.
  7. Day 7 Rome Sightseeing and Dinner in the Vatican

    In the morning, enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights, including visiting the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus and the legendary Colosseum, site of memorable battles and a monument to the courage of gladiators.In the afternoon, gain exclusive priority entry to the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection and visit the breathtaking Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s ceiling masterpiece.This evening, indulge in a special Highlight Dinner hosted inside the galleries of the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Bettoja Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio, Rome.
  8. Day 8 Arrivederci Roma

    Bid farewell to the glories of Italy. Departure transfers arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 and 09:30.

    meals Breakfast
Italian Intermezzo Guided Tour Map
Price Includes

Dining Summary

  • 3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
  • 7 Breakfast (B)

Choice Highlights

  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
  • Florence: Wander through the market stalls and browse for local Italian souvenirs and leather goods on a guided shopping tour.

Additional Included Highlights

  • : Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
  • : Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • : We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
  • : From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
  • : Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
  • : If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Authentic Dining

  • Como: The L'antica Riva restaurant, situated on picturesque Lake Como, is built within a historic 17th century building which was one of the first houses of the area. Here you will enjoy a special Welcome Dinner with wine, as you get to know your fellow travellers.
  • Florence: During dinner, meet a sommelier who will talk you through a tasting of some of Tuscan's finest wines.
  • Vatican: Experience a special Celebration Dinner inside the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum.

Insight Experiences

  • Vatican: Gain priority access into the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and view the splendid dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Make Travel Matter

  • Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft.  The workshop advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Top Rated Highlights

  • Como: Take in the exquisite views of the lake and its alpine backdrop as you enjoy an orientation of this magnificent town.
  • Venice: With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.
  • Venice: Delight in the magic of this charming city as you are serenaded, travelling through the atmospheric canals by gondola.
  • Pisa: Your Local Expert will show you the baptistery bristling with marble spines, the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the 11th century cathedral and of course, the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles.
  • Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
  • Florence: Wander through the market stalls and browse for local Italian souvenirs and leather goods on a guided shopping tour.
  • Florence: Join a Local Expert to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square. See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods.
  • Florence: See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
  • Orvieto: During your orientation of this Umbrian hilltop town with your Travel Director, visit Piazza del Duomo to admire the cathedral.
  • Rome: Discover ancient treasures of Rome with a passionate local. See Circus Maximus and the Ancient Forum, and stand beside the Colosseum, which bears witness to the limitless courage of the gladiators.

Travel Director

  • : "One food I really love introducing my guests to is tramezzini sandwiches because they are a real art form in Venice. For the locals it is a quick inexpensive bite to get them through the day...best eaten standing up at the bar!"
  • : "Venice is so unique that anyone seeing it for the first time is never fully prepared for the magic, from seeing their first gondola to the facade of St. Mark’s Cathedral."
  • : "I really love about showing guests the huge variety that Italy has to offer, from quaint countryside villages to cities full of stupendous art and architecture."

Well-being

  • : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Dates & Prices

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.

Online Booking Process

Onlinebookingprocesssteps
July 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Jul 16 Sun
Jul 23 Sun
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,745
AARP Members Save up to $100
Jul 23 Sun
Jul 30 Sun
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,745
AARP Members Save up to $100
Jul 30 Sun
Aug 6 Sun
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,668
August 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Aug 6 Sun
Aug 13 Sun
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,668
AARP Members Save up to $100
Aug 27 Sun
Sep 3 Sun
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,805 $2,525 Save $281
GETAWAY DEALS
October 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Oct 8 Sun
Oct 15 Sun
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,805
AARP Members Save up to $100
Oct 15 Sun
Oct 22 Sun
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,805
Optional Add-Ons

Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

Como

Available on Day 2

Lake Como Cruise

Enjoy a scenic cruise on Italy’s most famous lake. See some of the most beautiful villas in Italy – homes to the rich and famous where many have stayed including Gianni Versace, Sophia Loren, George Clooney, Mussolini and Churchill just to name a few. Afterwards there is free time to enjoy shopping in the boutiques of Como, famous for its silk products.
Adult Price: € 48

Venice

Available on Day 2

Magical Venice

Venice can be Europe's most romantic city in the evening, offering dramatic landscapes with buildings that dazzle as the sun sets and the lights go on. Sit back and take it all in as private water taxis take you to the centre of it all, Piazza San Marco, where we have seats reserved outside a famous Venetian cafe, in front of a live orchestra and in view of those illuminated St Mark's sights. Our private water taxis will also take us the length of the Grand Canal, under the Rialto Bridge, seeing Venice at its most magical.
Adult Price: € 55

Available on Day 2

Venetian Magic

An unforgettable introduction to this unique and magical city. We cruise along the Grand Canal by private water taxi, admiring the magnificent and elegant palazzos. We see the Rialto Bridge and then reach "the most beautiful outdoor drawing room in the world" - St Mark's Square.
Adult Price: € 41

Available on Day 3

Burano Excursion & Meal

Leave the hustle of St Mark's Square behind on a delightful private cruise around the islands of the Venetian lagoon. Alight at the island of Burano, a photographer's paradise, famous for its candy coloured houses, artisan lace makers and leaning bell tower that would give Pisa a good run for its money. Enjoy a superb meal sampling the local specialities with wine included. An excursion not to be missed!
Adult Price: € 72

Available on Day 3

Hidden Venice

To only experience Venice's big set pieces - St Mark's Square; the Rialto; the Grand Canal - is to miss out on a hidden world full of surprises! Join a Local Expert for a fascinating walk through some of the lesser known quarters of Venice. The back lanes and ‘campi’, small squares, where tourists seldom tread are full of history and great places to sample local life.
Adult Price: € 34

Florence

Available on Day 5

San Gimignano Excursion

A wonderful excursion with our Local Expert to Tuscany's most famous hill-top town! Visit San Gimignano, considered a medieval Manhattan, due to its towers which dominate the skyline. Soak up the unique atmosphere of this ancient gem which has remained intact since the 14th century and today is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Adult Price: € 36

Available on Day 5

Tuscan Dinner & Cooking Demonstration

Florence and Tuscany are renowned for their rich gastronomic heritage. Tonight we'll travel into the hills near Florence to the northernmost part of the Chianti, where a local chef will introduce you to the dishes that make Tuscan cuisine famous throughout the world. This wonderful cooking demonstration, with superb food and wine, will provide warm and genuine Tuscan hospitality.
Adult Price: € 71

Available on Day 5

Tuscan Dinner at Villa Machiavelli

Through the Chianti hills, we'll drive past vineyards to a delightful hamlet. Our destination is the ancient stone house of Machiavelli, where the great political theorist wrote his immortal work, ‘The Prince'. After a welcome drink and a visit of the villa and its wine-cellars, we'll enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine accompanied by great music and drinks, including of course, Chianti from the Villa's own vines.
Adult Price: € 68

Rome

Available on Day 6

Piazzas & Fountains

With our Local Expert, let's take a "passeggiata" (stroll) to enjoy the backstreets and secrets of pedestrian Rome. Be amazed at sights such as the fascinating Pantheon and the beauty of 17th-Century fountains and beautiful Piazzas. Come and enjoy the Rome of the Romans.
Adult Price: € 37

Available on Day 6

Roman Dinner Party

Enjoy an evening of delicious Roman cuisine with drinks and a great Italian ambiance.
Adult Price: € 62

Reviews
Service
Vacation
Independent Reviews
Kyra Lirosi
Review date: Sunday, October 2, 2022
Service
Anne was amazing!
Response from Grand European Travel:
We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your trip to Italy. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate your feedback. Happy Travels!
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Vacation
We were able to see everything we wanted, while traveling with great company.
Trusted Customer
Review date: Sunday, July 31, 2022
Service
The entire staff at GE was very helpful. This trip was delayed twice due to COVID. The staff helped me rebook without question.
Response from Grand European Travel:
We are so excited to hear that you were finally able to travel to Italy on your Italian Intermezzo trip. It sounds like you had an absolutely fabulous time, which makes us so happy! Thank you so much for sticking with us through the pandemic and allowing us to help you plan your trip. We appreciate your kind words. Happy Travels!
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Vacation
The tour director, Debra, was fantastic and very helpful. Her depth of knowledge about each venue was entertaining and educational. She and our driver, Enrico, are great assets to their employers. My traveling companion and I couldn't have asked for a greater duo. Our wellness director, Karl, was also fantastic.
Christopher Oneill
Review date: Sunday, May 22, 2022
Service
The staff was great…. Thank you! Very enjoyable trip !
Response from Grand European Travel:
We are ecstatic that you enjoyed your Italian Intermezzo trip, and we are so glad we could help you plan it. Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We appreciate the kind words.
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Vacation
Italy was amazing….your staff was famtastic
Reginald Small
Review date: Sunday, November 3, 2019
Service
He paid attention to detail and delivered a great product
Vacation
Excellent from beginning to end
Trusted Customer
Review date: Sunday, September 1, 2019
Service
The website was fairly easy to use. There were agents available by phone for questions.
Vacation
Insight Tours was highly organized. Our tour director, Debra, was amazing. One of our party was vegan and this was a bit challenging. The Italians could usually come up with alternative meals, but not the airlines. Tour was very fast paced. If I did a tour like this again, I would arrive a day early to rest a bit. Two of the optional experiences I wanted to do were cancelled. I wish I had been aware of the difficulty in getting museum tickets, so I could have booked them in advance. I missed a couple of places because I didn't have advance tickets.
M. Crist
Review date: Monday, July 29, 2019
Service
Alicia was very easy to work with. The booking was easy and she responded to all questions and requests quickly and courteously.
Vacation
The trip was wonderful from start to finish. Our guide was extremely organized, friendly, and knowledgable. We appreciated that he took us to places early in the day to avoid the crowds. Our coach was quite nice and our driver did a great job and was very courteous. The optional experiences that we chose were certainly worth it, and some of our favorite parts of the trip. We felt that we had a good balance between free time and guided activities at each place along the tour. We saw a lot and made many memories. We'll certainly return to Italy again in the future!
Response from Grand European Travel:
Thank you for sharing your comments and the beautiful pictures. We appreciate your business and hope to see you again soon!
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Patricia Walsh
Review date: Sunday, September 23, 2018
Service
Italian Intermezzo was the most unguided guided tour we have ever taken. After an overnight in Como, we were on to Verona. We were taken to the area next to the arena and walked through the town to the balcony of Romeo and Juliet. At this point we were given 2 hours of 'free time'. This was far too much time as all there was to do was shop. Next it was on to Venice and taken to St, Marks square for a brief history of the square and 'you have 3 hours free time'. Next day we were back at St. Marks square for another 3 hours 'free time'. This was the prevailing theme in Florence - more 'free time' and we'll be back here tomorrow. No information given on the museums and fountains and where to find them. On to Rome and the most disappointing experience at the Vatican museum. We were walked through gallery after gallery filled with paintings of Italy. When we reached the Sistine chapel, we entered amidst a throng of people all standing in the chapel trying to admire the beautiful ceiling. This was next to impossible as there was no place to sit. Our celebration dinner was almost cafeteria style and we were limited to 1 hour to enjoy a final dinner with our travel companions. This was our second trip with Insight Vacation and will definitely be our last! We have traveled with Trafalgar many times and have never been disappointed. If it were not for the optional excursions this would have been the worst trip we have ever taken.
Vacation
Not worth what we paid, would not recommend this trip to others!
Enna Del Russo
Review date: Monday, August 13, 2018
Service
Second trip booked through GET. Everything was perfect, from start to finish.
Vacation
Great value for the cost of the trip.
Trusted Customer
Review date: Sunday, August 12, 2018
Service
We loved our trip. Great group, excellent guide and bus driver.
Vacation
Beautiful country and nice itinerary. Not rushed.
Janet Smoot
Review date: Monday, August 6, 2018
Service
Our tour director was so knowledgeable about Italy. He was organized and made you feel like you were his only customers. Since this was the first ever guided tour for most of our group, Vincenso helped us navigate the ins and outs of a tour. Even though only 9 days, this tour included all the cities you would lime to see in Italy! The coach was great and our driver was excellent!
Response from Grand European Travel:
How wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing. We're beyond pleased to know you had the best time in Italy and that Vincenso helped to make the trip so special for you. Happy travels!
Monday, August 6, 2018
Vacation
The best number of cities to see in Italy. The extra excursions were fantastic! We couldn't't ask for more. I would recommend this trip and Insight vacations to everyone.
See More Reviews
Terms & Conditions
Click here to view Terms and Conditions for this guided vacation
Back To Top